Vacation: Meeting

                            By:

                         Fox Cutter

2/28/96:

One thing to say about being between solar systems is, the
stars are perfectly beautiful. No reflected light from
anything to mar there perfection. Even the twinkling caused
by the glass was so subtle it was nearly gone.

All this I saw, slowly moving towards me, as I sat on the
first deck observation lounge. Alone, in the dark, a few
minutes before the turing of the day.

I had found my way there a few hours before, while I was
looking for a nice quite place to relax and work. My first
choice had been one of the pools, but it seems Steven wasn't
the only one who knew of me.

Leaning back in my chair, I threw my PADD aside, and just
watched the starts.

"Amazing aren't they?" A voice asked from the row a seats
behind me.

I nodded some, "Yes..." I whispered, drawing it out a bit. I
didn't even look back to see who it was.

"It always seems so strange," the voice continued, "being
here, in the middle of them all." The voice paused a bit,
and I was to gather that it was a female speaking.

"The Stars seem so, majestic, from on planet. Here though,
they seem even grander, making us look like ants. Ants
walking across the homes of giants."

I digested this a bit, "That is very well said. Maybe you
should get that in an official quote book."

She giggled, "Well, already have really. My brother used it
as the opening for his first novel."

I chuckled, "Maybe I could steal the quote as well, if I
ever finish one."

"Ah," she said, he voice moving a bit closer, "working on
the 'Great Sapient Novel' are you?"

"Well... two or twenty of them. I'm kinda of a writer by
trade."

She giggled in my ear, "Interesting. So, what are you doing
up here?"

I waved to my PADD, "Just getting some work done."

"Why not do it in one of the other rooms?"

I shrugged, "To many people. I appear to be semi-famous in
this part of space."

"Oh."

I finally turned and looked at her. She was leaning against
the back of the seat next to me. Looking I saw the masked
face of a raccoon. She was rather pretty, and had the look
of experience around her. If I had to guess I would say she
was about 35 or so. She was casually dressed in a blouse,
perched on her muzzle was a pair of glasses.

"Ya," I said, "I'm Fox Cutter."

She blinked, "Vaguely remember the name, but can't place
it."

I grinned, "Good!"

She raised any brow, "Oh, why?"

"'Cause I don't need it!"

She laughed, "I suppose I should introduce myself as well.
Samanth Banks, though everyone calls me Sam"

I nodded, "Nice to meet you Sam."

"Same here. Now how did you get up here. You need a key on
the Elevator."

I grinned, "I took the stairs."

She blinked, "The stairs, why would anyone take the stairs?"

"I have this groundless fear of elevators."

"Oh, just a pointless fear?"

I grinned, "No, there's no ground. I was in an old elevator
was when I was 6 and the cables broke."

She nodded slowly, "Ok. Makes sense. You do know that this
is officers lounge, and is off limits to none-crew?"

I blinked, "Ah, no I did not know that."

Moving around, she sat next to me, "It's ok, it's not like
I'm going to throw you in the brig or anything."

I laughed, "That's a good thing. Pity though, it's a great
view."

"I'll give you a key to the stairs and the elevator, and the
stairs will be locked for now on. Just don't bring anyone
else up with you."

I looked at her, "Really, you must be pretty high up."

She gave me a sly grin, "You could say that."

I grinned, and check my watch finding it was ten minutes
after midnight, "I gota go get some sleep. Oria wants me to
check out some panel or something in the morning."

She nodded, "Your girlfriend?"

I shook my head, "She sticks with her own species. Which is
lion."

"Ah, ok. Listen, I have some free space at the Captain's
Table Friday night. Care to come along?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Are you asking me an a date?"

She stood, "No, the Captain can't have a date at her own
table. Bring your friend too." With that she turned and
headed out.

It took a second for me to catch on, "Your the Captain?" I
asked, running after her.

"Yep." she said, stepping into the elevator, "See you then,
seven PM, sharp. Also it is formal dress." Then the doors
closed on her.

Going back to pick up my PADD, I rubbed my head, "Well, this
is getting interesting." I muttered to myself, heading down
the stairs.

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, I was standing outside my room, about
to go inside. I say about because as I was putting the key
in the lock, I heard a male voice on the other side of the
door say, "Thanks, it's been interest, I'll see you again
later."

'Damn!' I though, 'She's got herself a client.'

Standing there, dumbfounded, I was shaken out of it as the
door started to open. I dived out of the way, and around a
near by corner.

There was a short exchange of conversation I was unable to
here, then the door closed.

Looking back around the corner, I saw a panther walked down
the hall in the other direction. 'What is she doing with a
panther?' I though to myself.

One thing was for sure, this trip was turing out to be VERY
interesting...